Our Favorite Designers Reveal Styling Tips for Every Room

Regardless of your design aesthetic, styling a space requires the perfect combination of creativity and attention to detail. Here, a few of our favorite interior designers share their top pointers for styling just about every room in a home, from the foyer to the master bedroom.

A welcoming foyer.Aubrie Pick

Foyer

"An entry is your first impression of a home. It should not only make an impact, but reflect the overall ethos of the home and its owners. I usually start with a statement light fixture (in this case we bought a French vintage crystal chandelier), a pretty rug, careful curation of art, and one-off furniture pieces like this reclaimed wood bench I found at a vintage shop. When you find the right mix of materials and textures, they work in conjunction to make a lasting impression unique to whomever lives there." — Lauren Nelson

A striking foyer with landscaped walls.Phillip Ennis

Foyer

"I love dramatic and interesting foyers. It is the first space you see as you enter a home, so I like to create a welcoming, gracious, and luxe experience. Make it striking by doing something unexpected with the wall treatment, like a hand-painted mural or a heavily textured wallcovering. Mix in some seating so you have a place to put on your shoes and boots, or just to add to the inviting feeling of your home. For the finishing touch, my favorite aspect of a room comes into play: the lighting. I love an oversized fixture to punctuate the space." — Robin Baron

A modern family room with plenty of natural light.Paul Johnson Photography

Family Room

"A family room should be warm and cozy, chic but lived in, inviting and relaxing. I typically use a lot of layers and textures: a neutral palette with some pops of color, comfortable seating, a snuggly throw blanket and soft lighting." — Sharon Rembaum

A bright, light-filled master bedroom.Stephen Karlisch

Master Bedroom

"The design is in the details, and this master bedroom is a great example of that. Turn heads with furnishings upholstered in luxurious fabrics like velvet or fur, add some bold accents and plenty of texture. It’s also crucial to make sure everything is scaled properly—notice how the artwork on each side of the bed is appropriately sized to frame the large headboard.” — Carl Wesley Lowery, Wesley-Wayne Interiors

A bedroom sitting area with French doors.Steven Dewall

Bedroom Sitting Area

"I love his and her bergère chairs outfitted in luxurious fabrics. Honor your unique spirits and choose textiles that complement, rather than match, each other. Collected antique tables paired with articulating lamps make cozying up with a favorite book and a cup of coffee luxurious and comfortable. Decadent silk velvet, wool mohair and cashmere textiles complete this bedroom." — Sarah Barnard

A sleek, but warm guest bedroom.Brandon Vogts

Guest Bedroom

"Whether your guests are staying overnight or even longer, it is important that their room feels like their home away from home. In this guest room, we used art and a Curtis Jere wall sculpture to give the space character. George Nelson cigar sconces were used for additional light at night for reading or checking their cell phone. The walnut built-ins provide ample storage for clothes and the drawers are filled with lotions, candles, chocolates, and extra toiletries. Of course, the bed is the most important element, so we incorporated pillows of different firmness and softness to ensure a great night's sleep. It's also thoughtful to leave books they might enjoy as well a full-length mirror." — Aaron B Duke

A masculine home office with a gallery wall.Mike Schwartz

Home Office

"Styling an office begins with answering two questions: How do you want to feel in this space? Energized, relaxed, cozy, elegant? How do you plan to use this space? And as more people work remotely, home offices are now serving a greater purpose as the sole working space for some individuals. Your home office can be completely designed and curated for your professional needs. What colors destress you? What type of desk is most conducive to being productive? What style feels the most welcoming and motivating to get work done? It's a new opportunity that is worth exploring as you design your own home office." — Elizabeth Krueger

"Dressing the walls in fabulous wallpaper or fabric, and selecting pieces that add a touch of glamour, or the unexpected, can quickly elevate any powder room. They create a lovely surprise for your guests—no matter how conservative the rest of the home might be." — Jennifer Worts

A colorful, playful sitting room.Lauren Weiss

Sitting Room

“Sitting rooms do not always have to be serene. It is refreshing to be able to lounge in a room that is colorful and vibrant. Good energy provokes creative thinking. Instead of pushing all your furniture to the walls, try floating pieces in the center of the room. You don’t always have to have a sofa. Consider arranging chairs in a conversational grouping. What about trying to layer multiple rugs instead of just one? Bookcases do not have to be totally filled with objects. They can look great with just one piece on each shelf.” — Tina Anastasia, Mark P. Finlay Interiors

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